Combination toothbrush and dentifrice carrier



Jan. 13, 1959 M. R. MECHEM 2,863,215

' COMBINATIONQTOOTHBUSH AND DENTIFRICE CARRIER Filed Feb. 18, 1957 INVENTOR.

COMBINATION TOOTHBRUSl-I AND DENTIFRICE CARRIER Maurice R. Mechern, Owatonna, Minn. Application February 18, 1957, Serial No. 640,964

3 Claims. c1. 13z -s4 My invention relates generally to toilet articles and more specifically to articles for dental treatment or care.

Still more specifically my invention relates to combination toothbrush and dentifrice carriers.

The primary object of my invention is .the provision of a conventional toothbrush having a rearwardly opening tubular handle upon the exterior of which is telescopically mounted a ventilated guard sleeve which may be slidably moved from an extended position encompassing and protecting the brush to a retracted position on the handle rearwardly of the brush, and in further combination with an elongated cross-sectionally U-shaped dentifrice mounting cradle member slidably receivable within said tubular handle, said cradle member having an enlarged closure-forming head on its rear end.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which means is provided for positively limiting movement of said guard sleeve beyond its extended and retracted positions on said handle portion.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described wherein said head is provided with a forwardly opening segmental slot of a width slightly less than the width of the flat closure strip-equipped end of a conventional collapsible tube type dentifrice container, whereby said closure strip must be bent into generally arcuate form to be received within said slot-opposite ends of said slot being formed to provide radially inwardly opening recesses for the reception of the opposite end portions of the closure strip, whereby to positively retain said dentifrice container on said cradle against accidental removal.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class immediately above described in which the forward end of said cradle-forming body membe: is provided with an offset apertured flange which projects transversely of the axis thereof intermediate the sides thereof for the reception of the reduced dispensing neck of the collapsible tube type dentifrice container.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described in which the cradle-forming body is formed from flexible resilient sheet material, the maximum distance between the sides thereof being normally greater than the internal diameter of said handle whereby the space between said sides must be reduced prior to inserting of said dentifrice mounting cradle longitudinally into said handle, said sides thereafter frictionally engaging the interior of said handle and retaining said body within said handle against accidental removal.

A still further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is relatively compact and neat in appearance, which is light in weight, and which is relatively inexpensive to produce.

A further object of my invention is the provision of a device of the class above described which is completely 2 sanitary and in which it is relatively easy to mount and dismount a conventional dentifrice container.

The above and still further objects of my invention will become apparent from the following detailed specification, appended claims, and attached drawings.

Referring to the drawings wherein like characters indicate like parts throughout the several views:

Fig. 1 is a view in top plan of my novel device;

Fig. 2 is a view in side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a view corresponding generally to Fig. 2 showing a diflferent position of some of the parts, some parts being shown in axial section and some parts being broken away; i

Fig. 4 is a view in top plan of the dentifrice mounting body or cradle of my novel structure;

Fig. 5 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view taken substantially on the line 55 of Fig. 4; l

Fig. 6 is a transverse sectional view taken substantially on the line 66 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 7 is a view partly in transverse section and partly in end elevation as seen substantially from the line 7-7 of Fig. 3; and

Fig. 8 is a fragmentary sectional view as seen substantially from the line 8-8 of Fig. 3.

Referring with greater particularity to the drawings, the numeral 1 indicates in its entirety a conventional toothbrush including a stem 2 and bristles 3. Projecting rearwardly of the stem 2 is .a rearwardly opening tubular handle portion 4 having a guard sleeve 5 telescopically mounted thereon for sliding movements from the extended position of Fig. 1 wherein it overlies and protects the brush 1, to the retracted position of Fig. 2 wherein, it is rearwardly spaced from the brush 1 on said tubular handle 4. Preferably and as shown, the guard sleeve 5 is provided with a plurality oflongitudinally extended circumferentially spaced ventilating slots or recesses 6 in one of which, as shown in Figs. 1 and 3, a stop pin '7, rigidly carried by the tubular handle 4, projects-thus limiting movements of said guard sleeve 5 beyond extended and retracted positions.

It will be noted that when the guard sleeve 5 is in the extended position of Fig. 1, that the brush 1 is fully protected against impingement upon any possibly contaminating articles with which .my novel structure may be placedafter use, in a toilet kit or the like, during traveling. The ventilating slots 6, however, permit the bristles 3 to dry out under such circumstances.

The numeral 8 indicates an elongated cross-sectionally generally U-shaped cradle-forming body for the mounting of a collapsible tube type dentifrice container X. The body 8 may be formed from any suitable flexible resilient sheet material. However, it is important that the maximum space between the opposite sides 9 of the body 3 be normally greater than the internal diameter of the tubular handle 4. Thus, it is essential that the space between the sides be reduced by finger pressure of the operator as the body 8 is inserted into the tubular handle 4 from the open rear end thereof, as shown in Fig. 3. However, thereafter the sides 9 of the body 8 exert a yielding bias against and frictionally engage the interior surface of the tubular handle 4, thus preventing accidental removal thereof.

At its rear end, the cradle-forming body 8 is provided with an enlarged head 10 which forms a closure for said tubular handle 4. Preferably and as shown, the head 10 is formed to provide a forwardly opening generally segmental slot 11 for the reception of the flat closure strip-equipped end 12 of the collapsible tube X, as shown particularly in Figs. 5 and 6. As shown in. Fig. 6, the transverse width of the slot 11 is preferably somewhat less than the width of the closure strip 12 of the convenu tional collapsible tube dentifrice container. Therefore, it is necessary to bendinto arcuate shape the closure strip 12, and to facilitate this, the head is formed to provide a central arcuate boss 13 which extends into the slot 11 and imparts to said slot-its generally segmental shape.

It is important to note, as shown in Fig. 8, that the slot 11 is formedat'its opposite ends to'provide opposed radially inwardly opening recesses 14 for the reception of the opposite endportions of the closure strip 12. In this manner, the tubular container X is maintained in operative position against accidental" removal within the cradle-forming body 8 with its reduced dispensing neck 15 projecting forwardly thereof'so as to facilitate dispensing of paste therethrough. Because of. the fact that air is substantially excluded from the interior of the tubular handle 4 when the body 8 is inserted therein with the head 10 in engagement with the open rear end thereof, it-is unnecessary to replace'the conventional cap on the dispensing neck 15' after same has originally been removed.

An additional novel feature resides in the providing of the forward'end'of the body'8 with an apertured; flange 16 which projects transversely of the axis thereof intermediate'the sides 9 forthe snug reception of the reduced neck 15 of the dentifrice container X.

My invention has been thoroughly tested and'found to be completely satisfactory for the accomplishment of the above objects and while I have-shown a preferred embodiment thereof, it should be clear that my invention is capable of modification without departure from the scope and spirit of the appended claims.

What I claim is:

1. In a device of the class described, a brush having an enlarged rearwardly opening tubular-'handle-forming portion at its rear end, a tubular guard sleeve mounted for longitudinal sliding movements on said handle-forming portion from an extended position encompassing said brush to a retracted position exposing said brush, means positively limiting movements of said guard sleeve beyond said extended and retracted positions, an elongated cross-sectionally generally U-shaped cradle-forming member slidably receivable in said tubular handle forming portion, the rear end of said member being provided with an enlarged closure-forming head, said head having therein a forwardly opening generally segmental slot for the reception of the flat closure strip-equipped end of a collapsible tubular dentifrice container, the forward end of said member being provided with an offset apertured flange which projects transversely of the axis thereof intermediate the sides thereof for the reception of the reduced neck of said dentifrice container.

2. The structure defined in claim 1 in which said member is formed from flexible resilient sheet material, the maximum width between the sides thereof being greater than the internal diameter of said tubular handle forming portion, said sides being cross-sectionally arcuate" and frictionally engaging the interior surface of said tubular handle forming portion when said member is inserted into said handle forming portion upon reducing the space between the sides thereof, said frictional engagement preventing accidental removal of said member from said handle forming portion.

3. The structure defined in claim 1 in which opposite ends of said slot are formed to provide radially inwardly opening opposed recesses for the reception of opposite end portions of the closure strip.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

